Remote operation of non-driving functionality autonomous vehicles

Abstract

An autonomous transit vehicle includes a vehicle body, a drive mechanism for propelling the body, an audio/video communications device that is in communication with a remote control system, an imaging sensor, a processing unit in communication with the drive mechanism, the communications device, and the sensor. The vehicle includes a memory having instructions stored thereon that cause the processing unit to detect improper behavior by a passenger on the transit vehicle, communicate a notification to the passenger that the improper behavior was detected, detect that the passenger has not rectified the improper behavior, record an image of the passenger, and communicate an alert to a security device. The alert may include the image of the passenger and an indication of the improper behavior. The instructions further cause the processing unit to notify the passenger that the image has been recorded and sent to the security device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An autonomous transit vehicle, comprising:
 a vehicle body; 
 a drive mechanism configured to propel the vehicle body; 
 an audio/video communications device that is in communication with a remote control system; 
 an imaging sensor; 
 a processing unit in communication with the drive mechanism, the audio/video communications device, and the imaging sensor; 
 a memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the processing unit to:
 detect, using the imaging sensor, improper behavior by a passenger on the transit vehicle; 
 communicate, using the audio/visual communications device, a notification to the passenger that the improper behavior was detected; 
 detect, using the imaging sensor, that the passenger has not rectified the improper behavior; 
 record, using the imaging sensor, an image of the passenger; 
 communicate an alert to a security device, the alert comprising the image of the passenger and an indication of the improper behavior; and 
 notify the passenger that the image has been recorded and sent to the security device. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The autonomous transit vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processing unit to:
 determine that the passenger is a repeat offender, wherein the alert further includes an indication that the passenger is a repeat offender. 
 
     
     
       3. The autonomous transit vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processing unit to:
 detect that a fare media of the passenger was not successfully validated, wherein detecting the improper behavior comprises determining that the passenger continued to board the transit vehicle without successfully validating the fare media. 
 
     
     
       4. The autonomous transit vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the notification comprises a live video message from the remote control device. 
 
     
     
       5. The autonomous transit vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the notification comprises a pre-recorded text-based message. 
 
     
     
       6. The autonomous transit vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processing unit to:
 provide a current location of the vehicle to the security device; 
 receive a destination from the security device; 
 maneuver the transit vehicle to the destination; and 
 stop the transit vehicle at the destination. 
 
     
     
       7. The autonomous transit vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processing unit to:
 detect the presence of security personnel at the destination; and 
 actuate doors of the transit vehicle based on the presence of the security personnel. 
 
     
     
       8. The autonomous transit vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a secondary audio/visual communications device positioned at each set of seats in the transit vehicle, wherein the instructions further cause the processing unit to establish a video communications link with at least one of the secondary audio/visual communications devices based on the detection of the improper behavior. 
 
     
     
       9. The autonomous transit vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the processing unit to:
 detect, using one or more fault detection sensors, a problem with the transit vehicle; 
 communicate the problem to a remote control system; and 
 receive a command from the control system to perform a specific function based on the problem. 
 
     
     
       10. The autonomous transit vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the command comprises adjusting a route of the transit vehicle based on the problem. 
 
     
     
       11. A method of remotely controlling non-driving functions of an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
 detecting, using an imaging sensor of the autonomous vehicle, improper behavior by a passenger on the transit vehicle; 
 communicating, using an audio/visual communications device of the autonomous vehicle, a notification to the passenger that the improper behavior was detected; 
 detecting, using an imaging sensor of the autonomous vehicle, that the passenger has not rectified the improper behavior; 
 recording, using the imaging sensor, an image of the passenger; 
 communicating an alert to a security device, the alert comprising the image of the passenger and an indication of the improper behavior; and 
 notifying the passenger that the image has been recorded and sent to the security device. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of remotely controlling non-driving functions of an autonomous vehicle of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining that the passenger is a repeat offender, wherein the alert further includes an indication that the passenger is a repeat offender. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of remotely controlling non-driving functions of an autonomous vehicle of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 detecting that a fare media of the passenger was not successfully validated, wherein detecting the improper behavior comprises determining that the passenger continued to board the transit vehicle without successfully validating the fare media. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of remotely controlling non-driving functions of an autonomous vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the notification comprises a live video message from the remote control device. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of remotely controlling non-driving functions of an autonomous vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the notification comprises a pre-recorded text-based message. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of remotely controlling non-driving functions of an autonomous vehicle of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing a current location of the vehicle to the security device; 
 receiving a destination from the security device; 
 maneuvering the transit vehicle to the destination; and 
 stopping the transit vehicle at the destination. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of remotely controlling non-driving functions of an autonomous vehicle of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 detecting the presence of security personnel at the destination; and 
 actuating doors of the transit vehicle based on the presence of the security personnel. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of remotely controlling non-driving functions of an autonomous vehicle of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 establishing a video communications link with at least one secondary audio/visual communications devices based on the detection of the improper behavior. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of remotely controlling non-driving functions of an autonomous vehicle of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 detecting, using one or more fault detection sensors, a problem with the transit vehicle; and 
 causing the performance of a specific function based on the detected problem.